Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship Criteria:

To be an apprentice you must:

• be 16 years of age or older
• be employed and working 30 hours or more per week
• be paid at least the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices

Level 2 Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative Apprenticeship:

Construction and Plant Assessments Ltd deliver the new Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative Standard. This Apprenticeship standard has been created in collaboration with the UK’s most prominent Highways Maintenance companies, and was approved for delivery in August 2018.

This apprenticeship is designed for people interested in pursuing a career in Highways for either in the public or private sector. It will provide vocational skills and training opportunities at the same time as supporting the process of developing these skills in the workplace whilst earning a wage.

The highways apprenticeship is delivered on a block release basis over a period of approximately 18 months. Our current delivery comprises of 8 blocks of in-centre training (4 days) every 10-12 weeks.  It will combine theoretical and practical training in the following modules:

Understanding:

• The principles of health, safety and welfare and how they must be applied in relation to their own work and others. (Including CSCS Card)
• The responsibilities under current legislation (including Health and safety at Work Act 1974, Provision and Use of Workplace Equipment 1998, Manual Handling Operations regulations 1992) and official guidance (risk assessments, method statements) to undertake work
• How to work in accordance with the National Highway Sector Schemes, Industry Codes of Practice, the New Roads & Street Works Act and other guidance relevant to the occupation
• The structure of the highway, civil engineering methods, construction technology and have knowledge of different road categories and types, construction materials and working methods
• How to identify, locate and excavate around underground services such as gas and power cables to avoid strikes and loss of service.

Demonstrate the ability to:

• Apply appropriate health, safety and environment procedures when working on the road
• Plan and undertake work practice productively when carrying out repairs to potholes, pavements and kerbs, and laying new surfaces on rural and urban roads
• Read, interpret and work to drawings, specifications and highways information Highways information will include details on the use of safety barriers, cones, traffic flow and safety zones to work within, whilst employed on the highway
• Use underground cable locators to identify buried water, gas, sewer lines or other utility services, and once identified excavate by hand around the line to stop any damage and disruption to services
• Apply safe working practise for moving, storing, lifting and handling of resources
• Excavation and reinstatement of the highway by carrying out maintenance and repairs, including removal of material within the road or road side using hand or power tools and reinstatement of the area using concrete, screeds, sub-base, aggregates or bituminous materials
• Install Street Ironworks (drain access covers and frames and gully gates situated on the road) to given work instructions
• Prepare and operate powered tools or pedestrian plant, machinery or equipment for use on roads. This will include machinery for generator’s, pumps, pedestrian operated plant (e.g. pushed roller), mixers, compressors and self–powered tools (pneumatic drill)
• Prepare, set up and work within temporary traffic management (using cones and barriers to section off elements of the road from vehicles and pedestrians) on urban and rural roads, whilst excavating and re-instating the highway
• Work with other sub-contractors on larger schemes (e.g. traffic management).

End Point Assessment

On completion of the apprenticeship training, apprentices will complete the End Point Assessment. This is the final test of the apprenticeship and is an assessment of the knowledge, skills, and behaviours the apprentice has learned throughout the apprenticeship. The EPA comprises of a knowledge test, practical assessment & a professional discussion, carried out by an external assessor. The EPA confirms that the apprentice is occupationally competent and ready to work in their chosen field. 

Included within the apprenticeship CP Assessments also offer the following additionalities:

• NRSWA (Streetworks Operatives) Units 1-6 and 9. 

The Highways delivery plan details the training week by week.